Next Article in Journal
Smart Solar-Powered LED Outdoor Lighting System Based on the Energy Storage Level in Batteries
Next Article in Special Issue
Preparation and Characterization of Plasters with Photodegradative Action
Previous Article in Journal
Design and Development of Weatherproof Seals for Prefabricated Construction: A Methodological Approach
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Daylight Performance of a Translucent Textile Membrane Roof with Thermal Insulation

Research Centre for Sustainable Energy Technologies zafh.net, University of Applied Sciences Stuttgart, Schellingstr. 24, 70174 Stuttgart, Germany
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Buildings 2018, 8(9), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings8090118
Submission received: 29 July 2018 / Revised: 17 August 2018 / Accepted: 20 August 2018 / Published: 24 August 2018
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Building Materials)

Abstract

:
Daylight usage in buildings improves visual comfort and lowers the final energy demand for artificial lighting. The question that always occurs is how much conservation can be achieved? New or rare materials and constructions have a lack of information about their application. Therefore, the current investigation quantifies the daylight and energy performance of a rare multi-layer textile membrane roof. A translucent, thermal insulation with a glass fibre fleece between the two roof membranes combines daylight usage and heating demand reduction. A sports hall built in 2017 is used as a case study building with 2300 m2 membrane roof surface. The optical properties of the roof construction were measured with a total visual light transmittance τv of 0.72% for a clean surface. A climate-based annual daylight modelling delivers daylight indicators for different construction scenarios. The results show that, in comparison to only one glass façade, the additional translucent and thermally insulated membrane roof construction increases the annual daylight autonomy (DA700) from 0% to 1.5% and the continuous DA700 from 15% to 38%. In the roof-covered areas of the sport field, this results in a 30% reduction of the electricity demand for artificial lighting from 19.7 kWhel/m2/a to 13.8 kWhel/m2/a, when a dimming control is used. The study also found that the influence of the soiling of one layer decreases its light transmittance by a factor 0.81. Two soiled layers lower τv by a factor of 0.66 to 0.47%. This increases the electricity demand for lighting by only 12%. The results should be very valuable as a comparison and benchmark for planners and future buildings of a similar type.

Graphical Abstract

1. Introduction

The construction and materials of a building have a huge influence on its physical interaction with the environment and the required technical effort to reach the required indoor acoustics, air quality, visual and thermal comfort states. Passive functional components show less life cycle financial and environmental cost and need less maintenance than active systems. The drawback of less control of passive components can be compensated with adequate planning, sizing and backup systems.
In this context, passive daylight usage in buildings improves visual comfort and lowers the energy demand for artificial lighting. However, how much conservation can actually be achieved? New or rare materials and constructions often lack information about their application. Therefore, the current work investigated the daylight performance of a multi-layer textile membrane roof with a size of 2300 m2 on top of a sports hall (Figure 1).
As the authors of this study found few articles about energy data related to sport buildings in general and especially none on the visual influence of membrane constructions, the literature review mainly refers to office buildings and other translucent materials. Other researchers, e.g., Haase et al. (2011) [1], made the same observation about membrane constructions. With the term “membranes”, we refer to textile membranes with a woven fabric in distinction to foils. Some sport buildings with multi-layer membrane roofs have been built in the last years, but with very little available public information. There are for example the “Odate Jukai Dome Park” in Japan, the “Kurklinik Masserberg” in Germany (no translucency) and the “Dedmon Athletic Center in Radford” in USA (see Table 1).
Concerning energy performance, the electricity consumption to supply indoor illuminance needs has a relevant part in the total energy consumption of buildings. A report [5] based on simulations from the institute for housing and environment in Germany relates 34% of the primary energy (PE) demand QPE in a standard office building to artificial lighting (al). This corresponds to an electricity demand for artificial lighting (Qel,al) of 27.6 kWhel/m2tfa for low efficiency lamps (5.4 Wel/m2/100 lx) or 35% of the total electrical energy demand Qel,tot. The target indoor illuminance in that report is assumed to be 300 lx. This amount can be decreased by 87% to 3.4 kWhel/m2tfa using high-efficient fluorescent lamps (2.5 Wel/m2/100 lx), a daylight sensitive lighting control and a strategy allowing different illuminance levels in the room and individual working space lights. Then, the workstations are illuminated with 500 lx and all other areas with 220 lx. The PE/Qel demand for artificial lighting in such a high efficiency building is then 15%/23% of the annual energy demand. In the commercial building sector of the U.S.A., in 2003/2012, artificial lighting accounts for 21%/10% of the measured total site energy consumption and 38%/17% of the Qel,tot consumption [6]. A Swiss monitoring study in 128 office buildings reports a 25% share in the Qel,tot consumption during 2005–2007. The report confirms the U.S.A. trend of the high exploitation of efficiency potentials in lighting technology.

1.1. Energy Consumption in Sport Buildings

The authors of the current article found very little information about the detailed composition of the energy consumption of sport buildings. As lighting is the focus of this article, heating energy, e.g., from Beusker et al. [7], is not of interest. Two studies from 2009 and 2005 report monitoring values of the arithmetic mean for the total electricity consumption Qel,tot in German “dry” sport halls of 32 kWhel/m2/a (sample size 1365 [8]) and 50 kWhel/m2/a (sample size 90 [9]). A UK report from 2001 [10] states as typical mean Qel,tot for a local dry sports centre 105 kWhel/m2/a.

1.2. Lighting Systems and Conservations

When speaking about “savings” or “conservations”, a crucial but often ambiguously mentioned issue is the reference or base case that any scenario relates to. In addition, the real consumption is highly sensitive to boundary conditions such as neighbouring buildings, availability of solar radiation, target illuminance, geometries, user behaviour, equipment specifications or correct sizing. Hence, there is a high variation between different buildings and comparisons should be taken with care. Consequently, electric energy savings for lighting determined via measurements or calculation show a very large range of variation between 11% and 94% [11]. Some correlations try to cover all relevant influences and offer methods to estimate energy savings (e.g., Krarti et al. [12] and Ihm et al. [13]). Lowry [11] criticized that savings caused by automatic controls are overestimated in many cases because of choosing a non-adequate reference scenario with an insufficient user behaviour profile for manual on/off control. He also suggested as a key performance indicator to focus on absolute energy metrics instead of percentage savings. The authors of the current article strongly support these suggested methods and try to give absolute energy values and clear reference scenarios.
Besides the environmental and financial costs of the energy demand for artificial lighting, visual comfort and health aspects are also in favour of natural daylight [14,15]. In sunlit situations, the natural daylight often has to be blocked to prohibit glare and overheating. Beside transparent windows with shelves and reflecting blinds [16], other constructions exist such as translucent wall materials or waveguide systems especially to transport daylight also to façade distant spaces.

1.2.1. Materials

Translucent materials can help to reduce glare risk with an increased indoor daylight availability. However, glare remains a relevant risk. Matusiak [17] investigated the human glare sensing in the high latitudes of Norway with experiments. Her results are that a completely translucent aerogel façade in direct sunlight orientation with a light transmittance τv of 29% still causes intolerable glare in sunlit periods.
A numerical study from Pagliolico et al. [18] in Turin applied partly translucent interior walls with glass splinters in the concrete (τv 29%). The target of the photosensitive dimming control was 500 lx. Compared to opaque interior walls, the Qel,al decreases from 11.3 to 10.0 kWhel/m2/a in rooms with adjacent south oriented outside wall (with movable blinds) and from 6.3 to 5.0 kWhel/m2/a for north orientation.
In New York, a multipurpose, seven-storey building with a translucent marble envelope was investigated by Rosso et al. [19]. A Colour Rendering Index (CRI) of 86 is measured. Simulations under an indefinite control reveal a decrease in the Qel,al from 18 to 16 kWhel/m2/a (11% savings) for a translucent marble façade (τv 7%) compared to an opaque one. Furthermore, the high solar reflectance of 58% for the marble reduces the demand of energy for cooling by 10%, when compared to more traditional cement-based façades with solar reflectance of 30%. The target illuminances ranged from 150 to 300 lx.
A translucent wall with silica aerogel and PCM material has been investigated experimentally and numerically in a laboratory by Souayfane et al. [20]. They focus on the thermal behaviour.
Ahuja et al. [21] evaluated the monetary savings in energy consumption for heating, cooling and lighting of an interesting translucent concrete wall system in Berkeley. Unfortunately, the reference was not a realistic scenario with a standard window wall but a completely opaque room. The insulated concrete panels were fabricated with embedded optical fibres with different fibre ratios for light transmission. The fibres penetrated all wall layers, namely concrete, Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) insulation and the final drywall. With a probabilistic manual on/off switching behaviour of the occupants, they found an optimum financial cost reduction of 18% related to a completely opaque room.
Optical fibres can also be combined with solar concentrators for a building daylighting system (waveguides). They can deliver sunlight deep into the interior rooms of a building [22,23]. This technology allows supplying rooms without outside connection with natural daylight. To distribute the collected light, conventional light fittings can be used. However, the operating distance of such systems is limited. With increasing length of the optical fibres, the wavelength between 720 and 780 nm in the visible wavelength range will be lost. That causes a blue shift which leads to optically uncomfortableness [24].

1.2.2. Lighting Control

As with all automation systems, for the lighting control system, the control strategy and control parameters influence the result tremendously. Different control types are:
  • Manually operated on/off (not automatized).
  • Time scheduled on/off.
  • Occupancy sensitive on/off.
  • Daylight sensitive with: (i) dimming; or (ii) stepped.
Hybrids between these types are possible. A daylight sensitive control can reduce the Qel,al by 75% with a simple time schedule as a reference [25]. Comparing dimming and stepped daylight sensitive controls, dimming is only advantageous from an energetic point of view for low sunlit locations or room geometries [25,26]. Then, the part load can be effectively used and only few time periods with the (unwanted) minimum residual load of dimming lightings occur. On the other hand, dimming appears more appealing for human sensation because of the more continuous changings.
Field experiments measuring illuminance in an atrium office building in Hong Kong indicate electricity savings for dimming control compared to opaque walls of 59–75% [27]. Roisin et al. [28] investigated the potential energy savings in a virtual office room with occupancy or daylight sensitive control in three European cities (Stockholm, Brussels and Athens). The reference has the same geometry but a different control with time scheduled on/off: 45–61% of the electric energy can be saved with dimming and 11% with occupancy on/off control. The façade orientation played a minor role in the order of 4% in the worst case of Stockholm. A field study [29] in a 51-storey office building in New York revealed a 20% reduction of Qel,al for dimming control relative to an occupancy based control.
Going into more detail is out of the scope of the current article. In the case study, building a dimming control is realized as described in Section 2.1.

1.3. Membrane Roofs

The advantages of textile membrane roofs are their low weight and long covering ranges. Furthermore, they appear very aesthetic with their unusual and soft shapes. A sophisticated collection of realized membrane buildings can be found in a report by Haase et al. [1] in German language. Many aspects of these special tensile roof constructions are of importance, for example the wind loadings on their unusual shapes [30] or the acoustic behaviour [31]. However, this is out of the scope of the current article. Concerning the optical properties, Haase et al. [1] measured a light transmittance τ of 3.7% for a single layer of a PVC coated Polyester (PES) tensile membrane and 1.1% for a double layer with air gap. An overview of some example buildings with membrane roofs and their properties is given in Table 1. The multipurpose hall “Odate Jukai Dome Park” (Japan) with two layers of PTFE coated glass fibre textile shows a light transmittance of 8% [2]. Insulated and translucent multilayer constructions are also realised: The “ZAE Würzburg Technikum” building (Würzburg, Germany) with 10 cm translucent glass fibre insulation shows a U-value of 1 W/m2K and a τ of 3% [3]. The University Sport centre Radford (VA, USA) with an aerogel insulation and glass fibre membrane shows a τ of 3.5% and a U-value of 0.47 W/m2/K [4]. The Olympia swimming hall Munich (Germany) with a 7 cm PES fleece insulation has a U-value of 0.42 W/m2/K and a τ of 1.5% [4].

2. Materials and Methods

In this section, we present first the case study building’s properties and geometry and then optical measurements. The annual daylight simulations with the different scenarios are described last. They yield the key performance indicators of daylight use and electricity consumption.

2.1. Case Study Building

The community gym “Julius-Hirsch-Sportzentrum” is located 288 m above sea level at 49.482 latitude and 10.988 longitude in the German municipality of Fürth [32]. The sport arena is intended to host one indoor soccer/hand ball/basketball match or three small spaces for school sports.
The building has a glass façade on the northeast side with the so-called indoor “balcony”, a 45 m × 27 m indoor field, changing rooms below the balcony and in the integrated attachment with the wooden façade. Figure 1 shows photos from the outside and a schematic top view is presented in Figure 2a. The rooms are arranged throughout the basement and ground floor while the sport field is located at the subterranean level of the basement, as shown in Figure 2b. The membrane roof spans the field and partly the secondary rooms. From an architectural point of view, the shape of the roof reminds of a sprinter on the starting block while the white membrane represents sportswear [33]. The light weight impression of the building appears adequate to the dynamic activities inside [33].
The overall heat transfer coefficient (U-value) is 0.23 W/m2/K for the opaque and 1.6 W/m2/K for transparent envelope components (from the certificate EnEV 2007, more details in Table A1). The total primary energy demand according to EnEV 2009 is calculated as 129 kWh/m2. Further description about hygrothermal simulations of the roof construction and general information about the project can be found in Cremers et al. (2016) [34]. Details about the roof construction follow in the next subsection.

2.1.1. Roof Construction

The scheme of the layer construction of the roof can be found in Figure 3a. It consists of an outer membrane (OM) as weather protection, a 0.5–2.5 m air space, a thin cover foil as humidity barrier, a thermal insulation, a small 4 cm air gap and the inner membrane (IM). The OM is walkable. A photography of the membrane interspace is shown in Figure 3b. A maintenance gangplank on the right side, the underside of the outer membrane at the top part of the image and the cover foil at the bottom part can be seen. The relevant properties of the roof construction and the glass of the façade are presented in Table 2. Most information was taken from the company datasheets. The total transmittance was measured as described in Section 2.2.

2.1.2. Lighting System

The lighting installations in the main hall have a total electrical power of 10.4 kW and a luminous flux of 1830 k lm. This refers to Light Groups 1–4 in the simulation. They are listed in Table 3. The dynamic dimming control design aims to an illuminance on the ground of 700 lx. Three levels of 300, 500 and 700 lx can be set manually to override the automatic.

2.2. Optical Measurements

To calculate the (visual) light transmittance τv (DIN EN 410:2011-04), measurements of the (visual) illuminance Ev based on EN 14500:2008 were carried out. A spectrometer “GL Spectis 1.0 Touch” from “GL Optic Lichtmesstechnik GmbH” was used as measuring equipment. The spatial positions of the sensor were 5 cm under the inner membrane (Ev,IM) and vertically directly above the position on top of the outer membrane. Ev,OM equals the ambient conditions in the membrane plane (Figure 2b). A cover protects the bottom measurement under the IM from insolation through the glass façade. Multiple measurements were recorded (Table 4) and led to a (visual) light transmittance τv of 0.47% with soiling on top of the OM as well as on the cover foil. The roof construction was at the time of the measurement two years old.
With the same measuring device, the illuminance above and below the OM was recorded at two different positions: around a cleaned area of 1 m2 and around a soiled area untouched for two years. Therewith, the transmittance τv of only the clean OM was calculated to 18% and the soiled OM to 14.6%. Hence, a decrease of the transmittance through one layer by a factor 0.81 was caused by the soiling. As the layer in between the cover foils also gets soiled by dust and pollen, we estimated the clean transmittance from the complete roof construction as 0.72% (0.47% divided by 0.812 = 0.656). Additionally, the daylight factor was measured as 0.83%. The daylight factor represents the percentage of the outdoor light (illuminance in lx) under overcast skies that is available indoors on the horizontal plane in the occupant area.

2.3. Simulation

2.3.1. 3D Model

The geometry of the sports hall was simplified for the simulation and built in SketchUp Pro 2018. The hall itself was shown as a hall floor and a platform behind a single glass front, which consists of joined single windows. Adjacent rooms and the supporting structure were not mapped for the light simulation process. The roof was designed as a translucent membrane roof. Table A3 in Appendix A presents the material definition file of DIVA for the translucent component.
To define other material properties, the following parameters were assumed or taken from datasheets and experiments:
  • Floor: Sports hall flooring with a reflection of 20%.
  • Wall: Interior wall with a reflection of 50%.
  • Ceiling: High reflectance ceiling with a reflection of 70%.
  • Window: Two-window insulating glass with a transmission of 70%.
  • Membrane: The layer structure of the real object was modelled in the software as one component. A diffuse reflection of 69% and a total diffuse transmission of τv Roof in Table 5 were assumed. Direct reflection and transmission were set to 0. See Table A3 in Appendix A for the material config file.

2.3.2. Daylight and Artificial Lighting

The geometric model was built as a 3D model in SketchUp Pro 2018 and exported to Rhino 5. A screenshot of the 3D model can be found in Figure 4a. The simulations were performed in Diva 4.0.2.24, which is a plugin for Rhino to simulate daylighting and artificial lighting.
The material properties of the roof construction for the simulations were determined via experiments (see Section 2.2). An annual daylight simulation in Rhino 5 with Diva calculated the lighting parameters Daylight Availability (DA), Continuous Daylight Autonomy (CDA) and Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI) as well as the electricity consumption of the artificial lighting. It ran in one-hour time step resolution.
The approach of the varied parameters for the different scenarios is shown in Table 5. Properties of the building envelope, the target indoor illuminance, the lighting control and the transmittance of the roof component were varied. The 18 investigated variants are shown with all varied parameters in Table 6. There were two main groups of similar scenarios with target illuminance values of 300 (Nos. 1–7) and 700 lx (Nos. 8–14). As a step in between, two 500 lx variants were also calculated (Nos. 17 and 18). In addition, two scenarios with increased and decreased transmittance were considered (Nos. 15 and 16). According to the German standard DIN V 18599-10:2016-10, a sports hall should have a minimum target illuminance of 300 lx. In reality, artificial light is often used with higher target values so that scenarios with 500 and 700 lx are also tested. Overall, 700 lx is the realized situation in the case study building. Except scenario Nos. 15 and 16, the transmittance of the roof represents the clean surface case. No. 15 corresponds to the soiled surfaces and No. 16 to other materials with higher transmission. The user in lighting control mode “on/off” (o/o) switches the light statistically off when an indoor illuminance of 300 lx is exceeded. It is more than a time fixed schedule. This mimics a human operated situation. Dimming adapts the light power daylight sensitive to the target value. The target values also determine the installed lighting power (Table 5).
The lighting controls were defined in a grid of 1 m × 1 m and illuminance was evaluated at 1 m height. The sports hall was divided into four light groups for the control, as shown in Figure 4b. The balcony at the glass façade was defined as Group 1 with an installed lighting power of 2538 W for the 700 lx target. The sections of the sports hall were defined as Groups 2–4 with a lighting power of 2632 W each. In total, there is an installed lighting power of 10,434 W. For the simulation, a ballast lost factor of 28% and a standby-power of 8.4 W per LG meaning in total 25.2 W were assumed. The occupancy profile is 08:00–18:00 every day of the year (Figure A1). The weather file is located in the city Stuttgart in central Europe (Coordinates 48°47′ N 9°11′ E) with an annual global horizontal irradiation of 1093 kWh/m2/a.

2.4. Daylight Metrics

The Daylight Factor first proposed in the UK in the early 1900s is the ratio of internal illuminance to external horizontal illuminance under an overcast sky defined by the CIE luminance distribution [35].
In 1989, the Daylight Autonomy (DA) parameter was proposed by the “Association Suisse des Electriciens” and further developed by Reinhart from 2001 to 2004 [36]. It was the first dynamic approach for daylighting indoor evaluation. The DAxyz represents the percentage of hours during a period (i.e., year or the occupation times over one year) when the natural indoor illuminance value in an area overcomes a predefined threshold xyz indicated in the indices. It does not provide information about illuminance values below the defined threshold.
Rogers et al. (2006) [37] developed a modification of the DA called the continuous Daylight Autonomy (cDAxyz). With respect to the DA definition, it additionally counts partial values below the specified illumination level threshold xyz. A timely situation with CDA of 50% is not unique. It could mean that half of the time the illuminance threshold was completely reached and the other half of the time it was completely dark. It could also mean that all the time the threshold was only half reached.
The Useful Daylight Illuminances (UDI), proposed by Mardaljevic and Nabil in 2005, is also a dynamic daylight performance measure that is based on work plane illuminances [36]. It also represents the percentage of hours during a period when the natural indoor illuminance values lie in certain borders, namely <100 lx, within 100–2000 and above 2000 lx (UDI<100, UDI100–2000 and UDI>2000). As its name suggests, it aims to determine when daylight levels are “useful” for the occupant, that is, neither too dark (<100 lx) nor too bright (>2000 lx) [36]. The upper threshold is meant to detect times when an oversupply of daylight might lead to visual and/or thermal discomfort [36]. The UDI>2000 is equivalent to a DA2000.

3. Results

The results of the simulations are presented using daylight indicators and energy demand analysis. The results hold for the case study building geometry investigated in this study which has a speciality with an indoor “balcony” at the side of the glass façade (Light Group 1). The presented results concerning energy are related to Light Groups 2–4 located at the sport field. They are shaded from the “balcony” and further away from the glass façade than fields in other buildings directly adjacent to a transparent façade.

3.1. Daylight

Daylight indicators in the current study are the daylight autonomy (DA), the continuous daylight autonomy (CDA) and the useful daylight illuminance (UDI) with certain thresholds. The results of their spatial distribution are shown in Figure 5a–c. Light Group 1 (LG1, Figure 4b) adjacent to the window on the so-called “indoor balcony” was also included here. LG 1 was excluded for the energy demand analyses of lightening the field in the following section. Only the sport field was placed in focus to be more comparable to other sport buildings. The DA was calculated with a hard threshold and therefore applicable for switch on/off situations. The CDA was applied for dimming systems, as it weights the differences to the threshold.
The DAxxx with the respective thresholds 300, 500 and 700 lx increases of course with more light transmitting components. The single translucent roof shows a higher daylight usage (DA300 17%, CDA300 48%) compared to the single transparent façade (DA300 2%, CDA300 34%), see Table 7. The spatial distribution in the façade-only cases is highly asymmetrical towards the transparent façade (Figure 5a). Especially, the shaded edge under the “balcony” exhibits very dark areas. The Façade + roof cases deliver a more homogeneous daylight supply over the field especially concerning the CDA. The corner below the balcony remains the darkest area. Very homogeneous illuminance distributions achieve the roof-only envelope scenarios. However, the DA700 and CDA700 of 0% and 23% are smaller than the “facade + roof” cases with 1.5% and 38% (Figure 5b).
Increasing/decreasing the roof transmittance from 0.72% to 3%/0.47% changes the CDA in the 700 lx cases from the mentioned 38% to 70%/30% (Figure 5c and Table 7). The DA considerably changes from 1.5% to 47%/0%. The large transmittance of 3% (scenario No. 16) gives tremendous benefit for the daylight performance as also seen later in the electricity demand.
The balcony area has the highest daylight performance in the cases with glass façade as it is adjacent to the window. The UDI > 2000 indicates the risk of glare. This is harmless for all scenarios except No. 16. A shading system for the façade would be recommendable in that case. Even in the centre regions of the field, some signs of glare risk can be seen in Figure 5c. Going to such large transmittance values in a roof would require a closer investigation of glare and shading measures.

3.2. Electricity Consumption

For the energy consumption of any automated system, the control behaviour is crucial. To interpret and transfer the results in this work to other situations, an understanding of the two used control modes is essential. As an example, for the operation of the control modes, two visualisations of the transient behaviour are shown in Figure 6. The users in “o/o” mode switch off the lighting with a certain probability if illuminance values above 300 lx occur. The dimming always dims the lighting following a photo sensor and the target illuminance value. Hence, the dimming mode in Figure 6b shows many times with partly operated light in grey colour.
The results of the absolute electricity demand for artificial lighting (Qel,al) in all scenarios are presented in Figure 7. All absolute values of Qel,al including the LG1 at the balcony can be found in Table A2. The relative savings are shown in Table 8 and in absolute values in Table A4. The table contains much information. The column scenario No. is related to the scenario No. in the rows. The Unit is per cent. Negative values are savings. For the detailed scenario No. parameter settings, see Table 6. The header here in Table 8 indicates a short description of the scenario settings. Relations of a scenario with itself are highlighted with grey. Blue cells are referred to in the text. As an example for the reading of the table, the blue cell in the very bottom of the column with the scenario No. 14 means that variant No. 14 saves 10% electrical energy for AL compared to the case No. 11 indicated at the very left of the row. Going in that row to the left until column with No. 4 means that No. 4 compared to No. 11 saves 57%.
First, the absolute energy demand in the same geometry (i.e., “façade”) increases with increasing the target illuminance values from 300 over 500 to 700 lx. Comparing the different control modes “dimming” and “on/off”, “dimming” reduces the demand in all daylight variants. In the scenarios “Façade + roof” which equal the case study building’s geometry, this sums up to −24/−10% for a target illuminance of 300 lx/700 lx (Table 8 line “No. 4/11” blue cells). Higher target illuminances in this setting lead to less relative savings. This is because of the higher demand combined with only little higher natural daylight using potential. The absolute savings increase slightly from 1.9 to 2.0 MWh/a.
It becomes obvious in Figure 7 that the highest daylight impact on lowering the Qel,al over all different target illuminances can be generated by using a translucent membrane roof in combination with a transparent façade. In the cases of 300 lx/700 lx, the membrane added to the transparent façade cases reduces the Qel,al drastically by 42%/32% when relating the dimming control cases to the conventional building reference cases “façade-only” with on/off control (Table 8 line “No. 2/9” blue cells). This comparison holds for a modern new building compared to a conventional one. The influence of only the translucent roof reveals when comparing No. 7 to No. 5 (300 lx) and No. 14 to No. 12 (700 lx). Then, 38% (3.8 MWh/a) and 30% (7.2 MWh/a) can be saved, respectively. The 30% savings are the main result of the article and highlighted with the blue cell and white text in Table 8.
The influence of lowering (soiling) and increasing the transmittance of the roof is investigated with Nos. 15 and 16 compared to No. 14. The soiling of the OM after two years (No. 15) which reduces the light transmittance τv from 0.72% to 0.47% increases the Qel,al by 12%. A roof with τv = 3% lowers it by 41% (Table 8, line “No. 14”, blue cells). By chance, the Qel,al in case No. 15 with low τv (“700 dim 0.47” in Figure 7) almost equals No. 11 with o/o control and clean τv of 0.72% (“700 dim” Façade + roof in Figure 7).
The area of the sport field supplied by Light Groups 2–4 adds up to 1215 m2. This results in an annual area specific demand of 13.8 kWhel/m2/a for scenario No. 14 (the realised membrane case study building) compared to the reference conventional building case No. 9 with 20.3 kWhel/m2/a (only transparent façade, manual on/off control). That envelope case with the dimming control (No. 12) demands 19.7 kWhel/m2/a. The realized envelope situation with o/o control (No. 11) causes 15.4 kWhel/m2/a.

4. Discussion and Conclusions

A limitation of the current work is the occupancy profile used. It was assumed as 08:00–18:00, 365 days a year. The transfer of the saving potential in relative numbers on other buildings with more night-time use may be critical. The absolute numbers scaled with the illuminated field area and occupancy days over the whole year could be more accurate.
The so-called “indoor balcony” decreases the daylight usage of the analysed sport field in the current situation. Other fields adjacent to a glass façade would perform more promising. In that sense, the geometrical situation of the current study is conservative for the daylight performance. As opposed to this, the assumed occupancy schedule (08:00–18:00) lies strongly inside the daylight times. Hence, this boundary condition is favourable for the daylight performance.
Keep in mind that the (absolute or area specific) energy values indicated in the text always refer only to the sport field and not to the total building area or the indoor balcony.
Transferable findings are:
  • Combining a translucent roof with a transparent north façade performs best for lighting the field with a low electricity demand for artificial lighting of 13.8 kWhel/m2/a under 700 lx target illuminance. Comparing this value to reported total building electricity consumptions of 32 [8], 50 [9] and 105 kWhel/m2/a [10] for dry sports centres, it appears to be very low, especially for the field area where the highest lighting load occurs.
  • Adding this membrane roof even with the relatively low τv of 0.72% to a glass façade decreases the artificial lighting by 30%.
  • A high roof transmittance τv of 3% delivers great daylight autonomy of 47% and a CDA of 70% resulting in only 8.2 kWhel/m2/a electricity demand for artificial lighting. However, the risk of glare starts to become an issue around that value of τv, especially close to the glass façade.
  • Soiling decreases the hybrid construction’s daylight performance (façade + roof), but not as much as expected. Lowering the τv from 0.72% to 0.46% increases the electricity demand from 13.8 to only 15.5 kWhel/m2/a, probably because of the support from the glass façade. In a situation with roof-only daylight, this could be worse. This scenario was not included yet and could be a focus of another study.
  • To completely exploit daylight potentials, dimming control is recommended. It decreases electricity consumption by 10%/24% for target illuminances of 700lx/300lx compared to a manual user “on/off” behaviour. This percentage is lower than results from other articles because of the reference in this study, which is not a simple time schedule. In fact, the o/o control imitates human user behaviour with switching off the light very often.
Even though the electricity savings and the illuminance distribution of a roof-only translucent envelope may be better than the hybrid combination façade + roof, a transparent glass façade has a positive effect on the visual comfort feeling of the persons inside. Hence, a combination system could lead to an optimum configuration. A future study could use a more general setting with an occupancy profile with more night time use and a more common geometry without an indoor balcony.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, D.G. and A.B.; Data curation, D.G. and A.B.; Formal analysis, D.G. and A.R.; Funding acquisition, A.B. and U.E.; Investigation, D.G., A.R. and A.B.; Methodology, D.G. and A.B.; Project administration, A.B. and D.G.; Software, A.R.; Visualization, D.G.; Writing—original draft, D.G.; Writing—review & editing, D.G., A.R., A.B. and U.E.

Funding

The current work is embedded in the research project “Doppelte Membrankonstruktion mit low-e Beschichtung für ein transluzentes Dach über dem Neubau eines Sportzentrums in Fürth” with acronym SoFt funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Code: 03ET1163A. Project partners: ZAE Bayern, FAB Architekten, Wacker Ingenieure, F.I.B.U.S. Funds for covering the costs to publish in open access are provided by the Research Centre for Sustainable Energy Technologies zafh.net via the innovation and transfer project “M4_LAB−HFT Innovationslabor für die Metropolregion 4.0” of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
Buildings 08 00118 i001

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Mister Swen Brodkorb from the architectural office fab_architekten (http://www.fab-architekten.de/) for the supply with construction plans and to David Offtermatt and Hannes Marx for fruitful discussions about DIVA. The support provided by Volker Fux was greatly appreciated same as the assistance by all the caretakers of the building especially Sascha Meyer and Klaus Bieberich.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The founding sponsors had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, and in the decision to publish the results.

Nomenclature

Abbreviations Comment
alArtificial lighting
el.electrical
tfaTotal floor areaWith construction
totTotal
vvisual
PEPrimary Energy
PESPolyester
PTFEPolytetrafluoroethylene
PVCPolyvinyl chloride
IMInner Membrane
MIMembrane Interspace
OMOuter Membrane
IVInterior Volume
DADaylight Availability
CDAContinuous Daylight Autonomy
UDIUseful Daylight Illuminance
CCTcorrelated color temperature
Symbols
QEnergy [kWh]
Qel,totTotal electricitydemand[kWh]
Qel,alEl. demand for artificial lighting[kWh]
τvLight transmittance[%]
Ev(visual) illuminance[lx]
GglobGlobal irradiance[W/m2]

Appendix A

Table A1. Building parameters and indicators for the calculated energy demand following the German Energy Saving Ordinance “EnEV 2009, Energieeinsparverordnung”.
Table A1. Building parameters and indicators for the calculated energy demand following the German Energy Saving Ordinance “EnEV 2009, Energieeinsparverordnung”.
Heated AreaAnet ground area = 4221 m2
Annual final energy demand178 kWh/m2a
Annual PE demand 1QP = 129 kWh/m2a
Average opaque envelope U-value0.23 W/m2K
Average transparent envelope U-value1.60 W/m2K
1 heating with wood.
Table A2. Absolute electricity demand for AL and daylight indicators of all scenarios.
Table A2. Absolute electricity demand for AL and daylight indicators of all scenarios.
Scenario NameEnergy Consumption [kWh]
LG1LG2LG3LG4LG2–LG4
01_t0.72_300lx_opaque397141174117411712,351
02_t0.72_300lx_facade_onoff136240263194335910,578
03_t0.72_300lx_roof_onoff327134573266369510,418
04_t0.72_300lx_facade + roof_onoff13393039240425908033
05_t0.72_300lx_facade_dim8034017282730479891
06_t0.72_300lx_roof_dim27482881254231098532
07_t0.72_300lx_facade + roof_dim7622441171919496109
08_t0.72_700lx_opaque926496079607960728,820
09_t0.72_700lx_facade_onoff317693947452783624,682
10_t0.72_700lx_roof_onoff763080677621862024,309
11_t0.72_700lx_facade + roof_onoff312470925610604218,744
12_t0.72_700lx_facade_dim253393857085752523,996
13_t0.72_700lx_roof_dim710774916887803522,413
14_t0.72_700lx_facade + roof_dim240464944898539616,788
15_t0.47_700lx_facade + roof_dim254172145236637918,829
16_t3.00_700lx_facade + roof_dim16193647262036879954
17_t0.72_500lx_facade_onoff226967105323559717,630
18_t0.72_500lx_facade + roof_dim153644673504386011,831
DA/CDA
300 lx500 lx700 lx
01_t0.72_300lx_opaque0.00%/0.00%
02_t0.72_300lx_facade_onoff2.12%/33.93%
03_t0.72_300lx_roof_onoff16.74%/48.12%
04_t0.72_300lx_facade + roof_onoff39.49%/66.56%
05_t0.72_300lx_facade_dim2.12%/33.93%
06_t0.72_300lx_roof_dim16.74%/48.12%
07_t0.72_300lx_facade + roof_dim39.49%/66.56%
08_t0.72_700lx_opaque 0.00%/0.00%
09_t0.72_700lx_facade_onoff 0.00%/14.71%
10_t0.72_700lx_roof_onoff 0.00%/23.04%
11_t0.72_700lx_facade + roof_onoff 1.47%/37.63%
12_t0.72_700lx_facade_dim 0.00%/14.71%
13_t0.72_700lx_roof_dim 0.00%/23.04%
14_t0.72_700lx_facade + roof_dim 1.47%/37.63%
15_t0.47_700lx_facade + roof_dim 0.02%/29.93%
16_t3.00_700lx_facade + roof_dim 46.86%/70.19%
17_t0.72_500lx_facade_onoff 0.07%/20.57%
18_t0.72_500lx_facade + roof_dim 13.60%/50.12%
Table A3. Material configuration file of DIVA.
Table A3. Material configuration file of DIVA.
# material name: Precontaint
# material color: 178,178,178
# material type: translucent panel
# author: Amando Reber
# comment: This is a membrane with a reflectivity of 69% and a transmission of 0.72%.
# specular transmittance and specular reflection is set to 0.

#
void trans Precontaint
0
0
7 0.6972 0.6972 0.6972 0 0 0.0103 0
Table A4. Absolute electrical energy savings for AL in completive to Table 8: Absolute differences of the column scenario related to the row scenario No. [MWh/a] (negative values are savings).
Table A4. Absolute electrical energy savings for AL in completive to Table 8: Absolute differences of the column scenario related to the row scenario No. [MWh/a] (negative values are savings).
300 lx 700 lx τ LowHigh500 lx
O/O Dim O/O Dim Dim O/ODim
op.f.r.f + rf.r.f + rop.f.r.f + rf.r.f + rf + rf + rf.f + r
No.123456789101112131415161718
10.0−1.8−1.9−4.3−2.5−3.8−6.216.512.312.06.411.610.14.46.5−2.45.3−0.5
8−16.5−18.2−18.4−20.8−18.9−20.3−22.70.0−4.1−4.5−10.1−4.8−6.4−12.0−10.0−18.9−11.2−17.0
21.80.0−0.2−2.5−0.7−2.0−4.518.214.113.78.213.411.86.28.3−0.67.11.3
9−12.3−14.1−14.3−16.6−14.8−16.1−18.64.10.0−0.4−5.9−0.7−2.3−7.9−5.9−14.7−7.1−12.9
52.50.70.5−1.90.0−1.4−3.818.914.814.48.914.112.56.98.90.17.71.9
12−11.6−13.4−13.6−16.0−14.1−15.5−17.94.80.70.3−5.30.0−1.6−7.2−5.2−14.0−6.4−12.2
14−4.4−6.2−6.4−8.8−6.9−8.3−10.712.07.97.52.07.25.60.02.0−6.80.8−5.0
17−5.3−7.1−7.2−9.6−7.7−9.1−11.511.27.16.71.16.44.8−0.81.2−7.70.0−5.8
44.32.52.40.01.90.5−1.920.816.616.310.716.014.48.810.81.99.63.8
11−6.4−8.2−8.3−10.7−8.9−10.2−12.610.15.95.60.05.33.7−2.00.1−8.8−1.1−6.9
Figure A1. Occupancy profile.
Figure A1. Occupancy profile.
Buildings 08 00118 g0a1
Figure A2. Spatial distribution of annual daylight indicators for scenarios with target illuminance 500 lx (Nos. 17 and 18).
Figure A2. Spatial distribution of annual daylight indicators for scenarios with target illuminance 500 lx (Nos. 17 and 18).
Buildings 08 00118 g0a2

References

  1. Haase, W.; Klaus, T.; Knubben, E.; Mielert, F.; Neuhäuser, S.; Schmid, F.; Sobek, W. Adaptive Mehrlagige Textile Gebäudehüllen Mit Anl. 1. Recherchebericht: Beispiele zur Konstruktiven Ausführung Mehrlagiger Gedämmter Membranbauwerken Simulationstool für Mehrlagige Aufbauten; Fraunhofer IRB Verlag: Stuttgart, Germany, 2011; ISBN 9783816786061. [Google Scholar]
  2. Hall in Odate, Japan, 06/1998 DETAIL. 1998, p. 957. Available online: https://inspiration.detail.de/hall-in-odate-japan-109315.html (accessed on 18 August 2018).
  3. Lang, W.; Rampp, T.; Ebert, H.-P. The Energy Efficiency Center of the Center for Applied Energy Research Würzburg. In Proceedings of the 30th International Plea Conference, Ahmedabad, India, 16–18 December 2014. [Google Scholar]
  4. Lienhard, J.; Knippers, J.; Cremers, J.; Gabler, M. Atlas Kunststoff + Membranen; DETAIL Kon.; DE GRUYTER: München, Germany, 2010; ISBN 9783955530037. [Google Scholar]
  5. Knissel, J. Energieeffiziente Büro- und Verwaltungsgebäude; IWU: Darmstadt, Germany, 1999. [Google Scholar]
  6. EIA Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS 2012). Available online: https://www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial/reports/2012/lighting/ (accessed on 4 May 2018).
  7. Beusker, E.; Stoy, C.; Pollalis, S.N. Estimation model and benchmarks for heating energy consumption of schools and sport facilities in Germany. Build. Environ. 2012, 49, 324–335. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  8. Zeine, C.; Gebhardt, M.; Bockting, B.; Mantai, A.; Ping, J. Verbrauchskennwerte 2005: Energie- und Wasserverbrauchskennwerte in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Available online: http://kw2003.de/index.php?option=com_kennwerte (accessed on 11 May 2018).
  9. Karopka, L.; Klöffel, A.; Therburg, I.; Kopetzky, D.R.; Weber, D.T.; Kunkel, S.; Schettler-Köhler, H.-P.; Vilz, A. Benchmarks für die Energieeffizienz von Nichtwohngebäuden: Vergleichswerte für Energieausweise; Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Bau und Stadtentwicklung (BMVBS) and Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR): Bonn, Germany, 2009. [Google Scholar]
  10. CIBSE. Energy Consumption Guide 78: Energy Use in Sports and Recreation Buildings; CIBSE: London, UK, 2001. [Google Scholar]
  11. Lowry, G. Energy saving claims for lighting controls in commercial buildings. Energy Build. 2016, 133, 489–497. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  12. Krarti, M.; Erickson, P.M.; Hillman, T.C. A simplified method to estimate energy savings of artificial lighting use from daylighting. Build. Environ. 2005, 40, 747–754. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  13. Ihm, P.; Nemri, A.; Krarti, M. Estimation of lighting energy savings from daylighting. Build. Environ. 2009, 44, 509–514. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  14. Marks, F.M. Letter to the Editors: Lighting for Different Healthcare Settings. HERD Health Environ. Res. Des. J. 2013, 6, 166–168. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  15. Plympton, P.; Conway, S.; Epstein, K. Daylighting in Schools: Improving Student Performance and Health at a Price Schools Can Afford. Presented at the American Solar Energy Society Conference, Madison, WI, USA, 16 June 2000. [Google Scholar]
  16. Kontadakis, A.; Tsangrassoulis, A.; Doulos, L.; Zerefos, S. A Review of Light Shelf Designs for Daylit Environments. Sustainability 2017, 10, 71. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  17. Matusiak, B.S. Glare from a translucent façade, evaluation with an experimental method. Sol. Energy 2013, 97, 230–237. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  18. Pagliolico, S.L.; Lo, V.R.M.; Torta, A.; Giraud, M.; Canonico, F.; Ligi, L. A preliminary study on light transmittance properties of translucent concrete panels with coarse waste glass inclusions. Energy Procedia 2015, 78, 1811–1816. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  19. Rosso, F.; Pisello, A.L.; Cotana, F.; Ferrero, M. Cool, Translucent Natural Envelope: Thermal-optics Characteristics Experimental Assessment and Thermal-energy and Day Lighting Analysis. Energy Procedia 2017, 111, 578–587. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. Souayfane, F.; Henry, P.; Fardoun, F. Thermal behavior of a translucent superinsulated latent heat energy storage wall in summertime. Appl. Energy 2018, 217, 390–408. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  21. Ahuja, A.; Mosalam, K.M. Evaluating energy consumption saving from translucent concrete building envelope. Energy Build. 2017, 153, 448–460. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  22. Vu, N.H.; Shin, S. A large scale daylighting system based on a stepped thickness waveguide. Energies 2016, 9, 71. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  23. Ullah, I.; Whang, A. Development of Optical Fiber-Based Daylighting System and Its Comparison. Energies 2015, 8, 7185–7201. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  24. Genswein, M.; Eicker, U. Ressourceneffizientes Gebäude für die Welt von Übermorgen: Forschungsprojekt REG II: Projektbericht; Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart: Stuttgart, Germany, 2016. [Google Scholar]
  25. Shishegar, N.; Boubekri, M. Quantifying electrical energy savings in offices through installing daylight responsive control systems in hot climates. Energy Build. 2017, 153, 87–98. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  26. Li, D.H.W.; Cheung, A.C.K.; Chow, S.K.H.; Lee, E.W.M. Study of daylight data and lighting energy savings for atrium corridors with lighting dimming controls. Energy Build. 2014, 72, 457–464. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  27. Chow, S.K.H.; Li, D.H.W.; Lee, E.W.M.; Lam, J.C. Analysis and prediction of daylighting and energy performance in atrium spaces using daylight-linked lighting controls. Appl. Energy 2013, 112, 1016–1024. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Roisin, B.; Bodart, M.; Deneyer, A.; D’Herdt, P. Lighting energy savings in offices using different control systems and their real consumption. Energy Build. 2008, 40, 514–523. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  29. Fernandes, L.L.; Lee, E.S.; DiBartolomeo, D.L.; McNeil, A. Monitored lighting energy savings from dimmable lighting controls in The New York Times Headquarters Building. Energy Build. 2014, 68, 498–514. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  30. Rizzo, F.; Ricciardelli, F. Design pressure coefficients for circular and elliptical plan structures with hyperbolic paraboloid roof. Eng. Struct. 2017, 139, 153–169. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  31. Rizzo, F.; Zazzini, P. Shape Dependence of Acoustic Performances of Buildings with a Hyperbolic Paraboloid Cable Net Membrane Roof. Acoust. Aust. 2017, 45, 421–443. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  32. FürthWiki e. V.—Verein für freies Wissen und Stadtgeschichte; Julius-Hirsch-Sportzentrum. Available online: https://www.fuerthwiki.de/wiki/index.php/Julius-Hirsch-Sportzentrum (accessed on 19 April 2018).
  33. Fab_architekten Achitect Competition. Available online: http://www.fab-architekten.de/fuerth.html (accessed on 19 April 2018).
  34. Cremers, J.; Palla, N.; Buck, D.; Beck, A.; Biesinger, A.; Brodkorb, S. Analysis of a Translucent Insulated Triple-layer Membrane Roof for a Sport Centre in Germany. Procedia Eng. 2016, 155, 38–46. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  35. Mardaljevic, J.; Heschong, L.; Lee, E. Daylight metrics and energy savings. Light. Res. Technol. 2009, 41, 261–283. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  36. Reinhart, C.F.; Mardaljevic, J.; Rogers, Z. Dynamic daylight performance metrics for sustainable building design. LEUKOS—J. Illum. Eng. Soc. N. Am. 2006, 3, 7–31. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  37. Rogers, Z.; Goldman, D. Daylighting Metric Development Using Daylight Autonomy Calculations in the Sensor Placement Optimization Tool; Architectural Energy Corporation: Boulder, CO, USA, 2006; pp. 1–52. [Google Scholar]
Figure 1. Photographs of the case study building from: (a) north; and (b) west.
Figure 1. Photographs of the case study building from: (a) north; and (b) west.
Buildings 08 00118 g001
Figure 2. (a) Scheme of the top view; and (b) elevation from south direction of the complete building. The sensor positions of the short time measurements of the illuminance are indicated.
Figure 2. (a) Scheme of the top view; and (b) elevation from south direction of the complete building. The sensor positions of the short time measurements of the illuminance are indicated.
Buildings 08 00118 g002
Figure 3. (a) Side view scheme of the roof layer construction; and (b) photograph of the membrane interspace. A monitoring platform for other measurements is visible on the two ropes on the right-hand side of the image.
Figure 3. (a) Side view scheme of the roof layer construction; and (b) photograph of the membrane interspace. A monitoring platform for other measurements is visible on the two ropes on the right-hand side of the image.
Buildings 08 00118 g003
Figure 4. (a) 3D model in SketchUp, view from north; and (b) group definition of lighting sections.
Figure 4. (a) 3D model in SketchUp, view from north; and (b) group definition of lighting sections.
Buildings 08 00118 g004
Figure 5. Spatial distribution of annual daylight indicators for scenarios with target illuminance: (a) 300 lx, Nos. 1–7; (b) 700 lx, Nos. 8–14; and (c) varied transmittance τv, Nos. 15 and 16. Scenarios Nos. 17 and 18 can be found in Figure A2.
Figure 5. Spatial distribution of annual daylight indicators for scenarios with target illuminance: (a) 300 lx, Nos. 1–7; (b) 700 lx, Nos. 8–14; and (c) varied transmittance τv, Nos. 15 and 16. Scenarios Nos. 17 and 18 can be found in Figure A2.
Buildings 08 00118 g005
Figure 6. Operation of the control modes as an example: (a) on/off (o/o) in No. 4; and (b) dimming in No. 16.
Figure 6. Operation of the control modes as an example: (a) on/off (o/o) in No. 4; and (b) dimming in No. 16.
Buildings 08 00118 g006
Figure 7. Electrical energy demand for artificial lighting.
Figure 7. Electrical energy demand for artificial lighting.
Buildings 08 00118 g007
Table 1. Optical properties of other multilayer membrane roofs.
Table 1. Optical properties of other multilayer membrane roofs.
SiteLight Transmittance τvU-Value [W/m2/K]
Odate Jukai Dome Park [2]8%no insulation
ZAE Würzburg Technikum [3]3%1
University Sport centre Radford [4]3.5% 0.47
Olympia swimming hall Munich [4]1.5%0.42
Table 2. Material properties of the building’s non-opaque components.
Table 2. Material properties of the building’s non-opaque components.
ComponentProductPropertyValue
Glass façadeInsulated triple glazingLight transmittance τv60%
Outer membranePrécontraint 1202 T2 2399 high translucency type, Serge Ferrari S.A.SFabric material/Top bottom coatingPolyester/PVC
Top/bottom varnishPolyvinylidenfluorid (PVDF)
Light transmittance 1 τv18%
Light transmittance 2 τv16%
Light transmittance 3 τv25%
Cover foilHostaphan® RUF, Mitsubishi polyester film GmbHMaterialPolyethylenterephthalat (PET)
Thermal insulation roofTIMax GL-PlusF Wacotech GmbH & Co.KGMaterialGlass wool
Thermal conductivityca. 0, 1 W/m/K
Thickness40 cm
U-value0.25 W/m2/K
Inner membranePrécontraint 1002 S2 3399, high translucency type, Serge Ferrari S.A.SFabric material/Top bottom coatingPolyester/PVC
Top/bottom varnishPVDF
Solar transmittance 2 TS19%
Light transmittance 2 τv16%
Total roof construction Light transmittance 1 τvca. 0.72% 4 clean, 0.47% 1 soiled
1 Measured value; 2 EN 410; 3 NFP 38,511 (French standard with partly diffuse incident light); 4 extrapolation.
Table 3. Technical data of the realized lighting inside the main hall.
Table 3. Technical data of the realized lighting inside the main hall.
Properties of one light elementAhall: area of the sport fields and platform
94W electricity consumption apiecerefers to the foot print area of the main hall
16,500lm luminous flux apiece1507 m2
1.6m length apieceDesign illuminance on the floor: 700 lx
111pieces in total
6.9W/m2 electrical power/Ahall(10.4 kW total)
1215lm/m2 luminous flux/Ahall(1832 klm total)
Table 4. Measurement of the illuminance for the (visual) light transmittance τv.
Table 4. Measurement of the illuminance for the (visual) light transmittance τv.
Year 2018Gglob,OMGglob,IMEv,OMEv,IMτtotτvCCTv,OMCCTv,IM
[W/m2][W/m2][lx][lx][%][%][K][K]
8 May 10:384312.5289 1004160.580.4757207560
8 May 10:394322.5589 3004200.590.4757307570
8 May 10:394322.5789 1004250.600.4857307550
8 May 10:404322.5689 1004220.590.4757207560
average 0.590.4757257560
Table 5. Overview of the values of the varied scenario parameters for Light Groups 2–4. Not all of the possible combinations were simulated.
Table 5. Overview of the values of the varied scenario parameters for Light Groups 2–4. Not all of the possible combinations were simulated.
Parameter:EnvelopeTarget Illuminance [lx]Controlτv Roof [%]
  • Opaque
  • Façade only
  • Roof only
  • Façade + roof
  • 300 (3.4 kWel)
  • 500 (5.6 kWel)
  • 700 (7.9 kWel)
  • Manual On/off
  • dimming
  • 0.48
  • 0.74
  • 3
Table 6. All used parameters of the 18 simulation scenarios in detail.
Table 6. All used parameters of the 18 simulation scenarios in detail.
No.Nameτv Roof [%]Target Illuminance [lx]ControlEnvelopeComment
1Opaque 3000.72 300o/o = dim. 1OpaqueOpaque building
2Reference 3000.72 300On/offFaçadeConventional building
3-0.72 300On/offRoof
4-0.72 300On/offFaçade + roofControl mode comparison
5-0.72 300DimmingFaçade-
6-0.72 300DimmingRoof-
7-0.72 300DimmingFaçade + roofReal built geometry
8Opaque 7000.72 700o/o = dim. 1OpaqueOpaque building
9Reference 7000.72 700On/offFaçadeConventional building
10-0.72 700On/offRoof-
11-0.72 700On/offFaçade + RoofControl mode comparison
12-0.72 700DimmingFaçade-
13-0.72 700DimmingRoof-
14Real Building0.72 700DimmingFaçade + RoofReal built situation, clean
15Lower τv Roof0.47700DimmingFaçade + RoofReal built situation, soiled
16Higher τv Roof3700DimmingFaçade + RoofSensitivity case high τv
17Reference 5000.72 500On/offFaçadeMedium lx set point
18-0.72 500DimmingFaçade + RoofMedium lx set point
1 In an interior space without daylight, dimming and on/off control behave the same.
Table 7. Summary of annual daylight indicators for all scenarios.
Table 7. Summary of annual daylight indicators for all scenarios.
DAxxx/CDAxxx [%]
300 lx500 lx700 lx
Opaque, τv 0.72%0.00/0.00 0.00/0.00
Façade-only2.12/33.93 0.07/20.57 0.00/14.71
Roof-only16.74/48.12 0.00/23.04
Facade + Roof39.49/66.56 13.60/50.12 1.47/37.63
Facade + Roof, τv 0.47% 0.02/29.93
Facade + Roof, τv 3% 46.86/70.19
Table 8. Relative electrical energy savings for AL: The column scenario No. is related to the scenario No. in the rows. The Unit is per cent. Negative values are savings. For detailed scenario No. parameter settings, see Table 6. The header here indicates a short description of the scenario settings. For example, the blue cell in the very bottom of the column with the scenario No. 14 means that variant No. 14 saves 10% electrical energy for AL compared to the case No. 11 indicated at the very left of the row. For another example, going in that row from the blue cell to the left until column with No. 4 on the top means that No. 4 compared to No. 11 saves 57%. Grey cells are relations of a scenario with itself and hence contain a 0 representing no savings.
Table 8. Relative electrical energy savings for AL: The column scenario No. is related to the scenario No. in the rows. The Unit is per cent. Negative values are savings. For detailed scenario No. parameter settings, see Table 6. The header here indicates a short description of the scenario settings. For example, the blue cell in the very bottom of the column with the scenario No. 14 means that variant No. 14 saves 10% electrical energy for AL compared to the case No. 11 indicated at the very left of the row. For another example, going in that row from the blue cell to the left until column with No. 4 on the top means that No. 4 compared to No. 11 saves 57%. Grey cells are relations of a scenario with itself and hence contain a 0 representing no savings.
[%] 300 lx 700 lx τ Low|High500 lx
O/O Dim O/O Dim Dim O/ODim
op.f.r.f + rf.r.f + rop.f.r.f + rf.r.f + rf + rf + rf.f + r
No.123456789101112131415161718
10−14−16−35−20−31−51133100975294813652−1943−4
8−57−63−64−72−66−70−790−14−16−35−17−22−42−35−65−39−59
2170−2−24−6−19−42172133130771271125978−66712
9−50−57−58−67−60−65−75170−2−24−3−9−32−24−60−29−52
52575−190−14−3819115014689143127709017820
12−49−56−57−67−59−64−752031−220−7−30−22−59−27−51
14−26−37−38−52−41−49−64724745124334012−415−30
17−30−40−41−54−44−52−6563403863627−57−440−33
45432300236−242592072031331991791091342411947
11−34−44−44−57−47−54−6754323002820−100−47−6−37

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Gürlich, D.; Reber, A.; Biesinger, A.; Eicker, U. Daylight Performance of a Translucent Textile Membrane Roof with Thermal Insulation. Buildings 2018, 8, 118. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings8090118

AMA Style

Gürlich D, Reber A, Biesinger A, Eicker U. Daylight Performance of a Translucent Textile Membrane Roof with Thermal Insulation. Buildings. 2018; 8(9):118. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings8090118

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gürlich, Daniel, Amando Reber, Andreas Biesinger, and Ursula Eicker. 2018. "Daylight Performance of a Translucent Textile Membrane Roof with Thermal Insulation" Buildings 8, no. 9: 118. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings8090118

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop